Apparatus for sampling liquids



April 9, 1940. R. A. MORONEY APPARATUS FOR SAMPLING LIQUIDS Filed Sept. 26, 1936 five/225w". moizd ii M02022 Patented Apr. 9, 1940 UNITED STATES T T oFFICE,

3 Claims.

the washing machine by means of a bottle, usually a milk bottle, attached to the end of a stick or handle. This practice is inconvenient, inefficient and time consuming, and is likely to result in breakage of the bottle within the container.

One of the primary objects ofthe present invention resides in the provision of a novel apparatus-mounted on the washing machine and hav- 20 ing means available at will for withdrawing water from the containerof the washing machine to a sight vessel for sampling or observation purposes.

Another object is to provide a new and improved sampling apparatus comprising a sight vessel from which water may be either returned to the washing machine or filled intosuitable test bottles.

Further objects and advantages reside in the provision of a novelsight vessel whichis mounted substantially at eye level, which includes means for drawing in and discharging water, and whichis self-cleaning.

Other objects and advantages will become appar nt as the description proceeds.

In the accompanying drawing,

Figure l is a fragmentary front elevational view of a washing machine provided with. a sampling apparatus embodying the features of my invention. 1

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary end elevational view on an enlarged scale or the washing machine and showing the sampling apparatus in side elevation.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken along line 33 of Fig. 2. g 1

While the invention is susceptible of vario modifications and alternative constructions, I have shown in the drawing and. will herein describe in detail the preferred embodiment, but it is to be understood that I do not thereby intend to limit the invention tothe specific form disclosed, but intend to cover all modifications and alternative constructions falling within the spirit and scope of the invention as expressed in the appended claims. I

Referring more particularly to the drawing, the invention is applicable to the sampling of various kinds of liquids, but is particularly adapted for and-hence disclosed as applied to the sampling of wash water from washing or laundry machines. 5" For purposes of illustration, I have shown a laundry machine comprising an outer casing or container l having an end wall 5 and defining an inner water space 6, and a revolving cylinder or drum 7 journaled at one end as at 8 in the wall 5. V

Thesampling apparatus in its preferred form comprises a bracket 9 secured as by means of screw bolts In to the vwall 5. Mounted on the bracket 9 is a sight vessel indicated generally at H. While the sight vessel 5 I may be provided in various forms,- it is shown as comprising a glass cylinder !2 clamped between and closed at the ends by suitable metallic heads l3 and M. The parts are clamped in assembled'relation by a plurality of tie bolts l5'extending externally along the cylinder IZ'and rigidly connecting a plurality of peripherally spaced ears IS on the heads l3 and It. Preferably, the head I3 is formed integral with the bracket 9, and is disposed in a position such that the sight vessel 1 l is mounted substantially at eye level and is inclinedto the horizontal. l

v 'The head i3 is formed at its lower edge with an inlet and discharge fitting I! which communicates with-the interior of the cylinder l2 at the lowermost point thereof, and which is adapted to be connected by conduits l8 and I9 to the, bottom of the water space 5' of the washing machine. A rotary hand valve 20 is interposed between the conduits I8 and i9, and is adjustable at will to interrupt or establish communication therebetween. The conduit l9 extends'from the valve 20 through an opening 2| in the wall 5 into one end and adjacent the bottom of the container 4. a

Any suitable means may be provided for eifecting the withdrawal of sampling water from the bottom of the space 6 through the conduit [9, the valve 28 and the conduit l8 into the cylinder l2. Thus, this means may comprise a lift or force pump, an air or: steam injector, or a vacuum pump. The specific means selected for purposes of illustration and having special advantages consists of a plunger 22 with oppositely acting sealing cups slidably disposed in the cylinder l2. Theplunger' is fixed on the end of a rod 23 which extends slidably out of the cylinder l2 through an axial bushing 24 in the head l4, and which is provided at its outer end with a handgrip 25. It will be evident that when the valve 28 is adjusted to connect the conduits l8 and I9, an outward pull on the rod 23 will fill the cylinder I2 with sampling water. Obviously, reverse movement of the plunger 22 will expel the water from the cylinder I 2 and return it to the washing machine. The plunger 22 wipes and hence keeps clean the inner surface of the glass cylinder. The water in the cylinder l 2 can be observed to determine its color and generally its soil content.

One of the primary features of the invention resides in the provision of means whereby the water in the sight chamber H, instead of being returned to the washing machine, may be conveniently filled into test bottles for quantitative analysis. To this end, the bracket 8 is formed with the horizontal guide 26 extending transversely of and beneath the valve 20. Removably and slidably disposed in the guide 26 is a rack or carriage 2! adapted to contain an alined series of test bottles 28. The valve 20 is provided with a spout 29 which is adapted to be connected thereby to the conduit l8, and which opens downwardly to discharge water from the cylinder i2 selectively into any one of the test bottles 28 depending upon the longitudinal position of the rack 2'! in the guide 26. It will be understood that when the valve 20 connects the conduit it to the spout 29, communication between the conduits I 8 and I9 is interrupted.

To facilitate filling of the test bottles 28, a rigid detent or lug 30 with a pointed end is fixed on one side of the rack 21, and extends downwardly for selective engagement in any one of a plurality of complementarily shaped notches 3! formed in and spaced longitudinally of the outer side wall of the guide 26, the spacing between consecutive notches corresponding to the width of each test bottle 28. It will be evident that by lifting the detent 30 out of engagement with the rack 27, and then adjusting the latter longitudinally, any one bottle 28 may be positioned beneath the spout 29. By lowering the detent 30 into the corresponding notch 3|, the bottle will be accurately centered relative to the spout 29.

If desired, the rack 21 may be provided with a card holder (not shown) for identifying the sources of the various samples.

The bottles 28 when filled are removed with the rack 21 for various quantitative tests. In one of these tests, the solid matter is separated from the water, preferably by means of centrifugal force, to determine the soil content. This may be conveniently accomplished by means of a rotary extractor or centrifuge (not shown) in which the filled test bottles may be mounted with their bottom ends extending radially outward. Centrifugal force will cause the solids to collect in the bottom of the bottles thereby providing a direct reading of the soil content.

The water is also tested to determine its pH value. This may be accomplished either by electrical titration, or by liquid titration using either methol orange or phenolphthalein as the indicator.

Electrical titration may be carried out by any suitable means. Thus, suitable electrodes may be inserted into the test bottle, an electric current passed therethrough, and the electrical resistance determined. This resistance will vary proportionately to the pH value. Instead of impressing a current across the electrodes, the water may be used as an electrolyte, and the generated E. M. F. measured by a meter calibrated to read directly in terms of pH concentration.

When titrating chemically, titration is carried out after clarification of the liquid, as by the aforesaid centrifuging in the test for soil content, so that the color changes of the indicator may be accurately determined.

It will be obvious that I have provided a novel and advantageous apparatus for sampling the water in laundry or washing machines. The apparatus is directly on the machine, and is conveniently available at all times. The water may be withdrawn from the machine for general observation and then returned, or may be filled into test bottles for quantitative analysis as to dirt content and pH value. The apparatus and method therefore afford an accurate control of the washing qualities of the water, and provide a new and improved technique.

I claim as my invention:

1. A water sampler comprising, in combination with a container of a clothes washing machine, a bracket mounted on said container, a transparent vessel on said bracket, a suction plunger slidably disposed in said vessel and having an externally projecting actuator, a pipe line opening fromsaid vessel, 2. second pipe line extending into said container and opening at one end to the bottom thereof, a valve having a sampling spout and operable selectively to connect said first mentioned pipe line either to said second mentioned pipe line or to said spout, a

'guideway on said bracket, a rack slidably disposed in said guideway and adapted to support a plurality of sampling bottles for movement selectively into position beneath said spout, and detent means for locating said rack in different positions of adjustment in said guideway.

22. A water sampler comprising, in combination with a container of a clothes washing machine, a bracket mounted on said container, a cylindrical transparent vessel on said bracket, a pipe line opening from said vessel, a second pipe line extending into said container and opening at one end to the bottom thereof, a valve having a sampling spout and operable selectively to connect said first mentioned pipe line either to said second mentioned pipe line 01' to said spout,

means for causing Water to flow from said container through said lines to said vessel, a guideway on said bracket, and a rack slidably disposed in said guideway and adapted to support a plurality of sampling bottles for movement selectively into position beneath said spout.

3. A water sampler comprising, in combina tion with a container of clothes washing machine, a bracket mounted on said container, a cylindrical transparent vessel on said bracket, a suction plunger slidably disposed in said vessel and having an externally projecting actuator, a pipe line opening from said vessel, a second pipe line extending into said container and opening at one end to the bottom thereof, a valve having a sampling spout and operable selectively to con-- nect said first mentioned pipe line either to said second pipe line or to said spout, a sampling bottle, means for supporting said sampling bottle in position beneath said spout.

RAYMOND A. MORONEY. 

